WEDDING RINGS
THE ORIGIN AND TRANSFORMATION
“People say it is the reception that makes the wedding or it’s the radiant bride, or perhaps it’s the guests, the ceremony, the food, the wine, the music,
the laughter, or even just the love.
They are all totally wrong. IT’S THE RINGS! “– Ron & Maria, friends of Palladio Jewellers.
In the words of Ron & Maria, it’s the Rings that makes a wedding memorable.
As we all are aware, exchanging rings is an important part of the wedding ceremony and hold very special meaning for the couple in terms of their journey and vows made to each for the time to come, but do we know how and when this tradition started?
Let’s discover the fascinating history behind the first exchange and evolution of wedding rings over these years.
They are all totally wrong. IT’S THE RINGS! “– Ron & Maria, friends of Palladio Jewellers.
In the words of Ron & Maria, it’s the Rings that makes a wedding memorable.
As we all are aware, exchanging rings is an important part of the wedding ceremony and hold very special meaning for the couple in terms of their journey and vows made to each for the time to come, but do we know how and when this tradition started?
Let’s discover the fascinating history behind the first exchange and evolution of wedding rings over these years.
FIRST EXCHANGE OF A WEDDING RING
The history of wedding ring dates to ancient Egyptian era, when
the first ever exchange of rings between two people was recorded.
According to the Gemological Institute of America, Egyptian pharaohs wore and gave rings to represent eternity, with the circle reflecting their cultural belief that your soul lives on even after your body is deceased. The ‘ouroboros’ ring portrayed a common Egyptian motif: a serpent swallowing its own tail, symbolizing the cycle of life.
According to the Gemological Institute of America, Egyptian pharaohs wore and gave rings to represent eternity, with the circle reflecting their cultural belief that your soul lives on even after your body is deceased. The ‘ouroboros’ ring portrayed a common Egyptian motif: a serpent swallowing its own tail, symbolizing the cycle of life.
Image Credits: Freepik.com
We must thank ancient Egyptians for not only starting the custom of wearing a wedding ring but also to the tradition of wearing it on your left hand.
They believed that the fourth finger of the left hand (commonly known as the ring finger) had a vein that connected directly to the heart. This was called the vena amoris, or ‘vein of love’—though the theory has since been disproven, it is the romantic notion about eternal love that still holds the power of bringing tears in the eyes of even the toughest of men while exchanging the ring with their beloved on the most special day of their life.
Take a look at the introduction and transformation of the wedding rings around the world over all these years:
They believed that the fourth finger of the left hand (commonly known as the ring finger) had a vein that connected directly to the heart. This was called the vena amoris, or ‘vein of love’—though the theory has since been disproven, it is the romantic notion about eternal love that still holds the power of bringing tears in the eyes of even the toughest of men while exchanging the ring with their beloved on the most special day of their life.
Take a look at the introduction and transformation of the wedding rings around the world over all these years:
HISTORY OF WEDDING RINGS IN ANCIENT ROME
When ancient Egypt was conquered by Alexander the Great, king of ancient Greece (then known as Macedonia), the Greeks adopted the Egyptian custom of exchanging
rings to signify love and devotion. From there, couples in ancient Rome began to exchange copper and iron rings as part of their marriage rituals, which later, by the 2nd
century, got popular with the exchange of Gold rings, according to GIA.
It is this gesture that started the trend of using precious metals in wedding bands today. The durable metal represents permanence and strength, as well as an unbreakable bond between the couple.
It is this gesture that started the trend of using precious metals in wedding bands today. The durable metal represents permanence and strength, as well as an unbreakable bond between the couple.
WEDDING RINGS DURING MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE PERIODS
During the European Middle Ages, around 900 AD, Christians adopted
wedding rings into tradition. The early wedding ring designs included heavy
engravings but didn’t sit well with the Church authorities which led to the
adoption of simple wedding bands. It was during the Medieval Times only
when the rings began to be set with precious gems.
Medieval Europeans used rubies to symbolize passion, sapphires to symbolize the heavens and diamonds to symbolize steadfast strength.
In the 15th century, sterling silver ‘Posy rings’ gained popularity. They featured short engravings of the poems or scriptures. The design for these rings evolved over time from outward-facing inscriptions to inward-facing inscriptions to keep the message personal to the wearer. It is during these times that couples started considering their marriage as something intimate rather than a simple legal agreement.
Medieval Europeans used rubies to symbolize passion, sapphires to symbolize the heavens and diamonds to symbolize steadfast strength.
In the 15th century, sterling silver ‘Posy rings’ gained popularity. They featured short engravings of the poems or scriptures. The design for these rings evolved over time from outward-facing inscriptions to inward-facing inscriptions to keep the message personal to the wearer. It is during these times that couples started considering their marriage as something intimate rather than a simple legal agreement.
A late medieval diamond and ruby ring. Courtesy: Leicestershire County Council (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Both Roman fede (A fede ring is a ring in which two hands clasp, as if in friendship, love or betrothal. The design was used in Ancient Rome, maybe earlier) and portrait
rings were popular in Medieval Europe. It was during the 16th and 17th century that Gimmel Rings (a gimmel ring, is a ring with two or three hoops or links that fit together
to form one complete ring) came into existence and became really popular. These rings consisted either two or three interlocking bands. Traditionally, these were used as
engagement rings. The betrothed couple would each wear one of the hoops during the engagement period and later at the wedding ceremony, the groom placed his band
on the bride’s finger, uniting the wedding bands into a matched set. The complete ring showed two right hands clasped together.
The fede motif later evolved into the Claddagh ring, which showed a pair of hands holding a heart. Gimmel rings with the Claddagh motif often had a third center band showing a gem clasped by two hands.
The fede motif later evolved into the Claddagh ring, which showed a pair of hands holding a heart. Gimmel rings with the Claddagh motif often had a third center band showing a gem clasped by two hands.
Photo Credits: Ethnicjewelsmagazinecom
Puritans in colonial America considered jewelry frivolous. Therefore, Puritan husbands gave thimbles to their wives instead of rings, which they used to sew clothes and
textiles for their household and eventually saw off the tops of their thimbles to make rings.
During the Renaissance period, where many cultures encouraged the exchange of wedding rings to symbolise the unity between the couple, toes ring (also known as Bichiya) was introduced in the Hindu culture.
During the Renaissance period, where many cultures encouraged the exchange of wedding rings to symbolise the unity between the couple, toes ring (also known as Bichiya) was introduced in the Hindu culture.
THE TRADITION OF DIAMOND WEDDING RINGS
The first recorded Diamond Wedding Ring dates back to the late 1300s or early 1400s when it was left by an English widow in her will. A poem written about the 1475
wedding of two Italian socialites reads: “Two wills, two hearts, two passions are bonded in one marriage by a diamond”.
The first famous diamond engagement ring was given in 1477 by Archduke Maximillian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy. The ring is said to have been made up of small flat diamonds that spelled out Mary’s initial, M, a fitting gift for the future duchess who was the most eligible bachelorette of the time.
The first famous diamond engagement ring was given in 1477 by Archduke Maximillian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy. The ring is said to have been made up of small flat diamonds that spelled out Mary’s initial, M, a fitting gift for the future duchess who was the most eligible bachelorette of the time.
These two portraits, painted at different times, show the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximillian I, and his first wife, Mary of Burgundy. Public Domain
Other famous historical diamond rings include the diamond ring that the Duke of Alçenon gave Queen Elizabeth I as well as the diamond ring that
Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, gave Mary, Queen of Scots. Both were given in proposal of marriage.
Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alençon and Queen Elizabeth I – Picture Credits: Wikipedia
Diamond engagement rings became increasingly popular and ornate during Victorian times due to Queen Victoria’s famed love for diamond jewellery.
As western cultural influence ingrained throughout Asia, India, and the Middle East, wedding rings became much more widely used, with a twist in design varying from region to region.
As western cultural influence ingrained throughout Asia, India, and the Middle East, wedding rings became much more widely used, with a twist in design varying from region to region.
WHEN DID MEN START WEARING WEDDING RINGS?
Up until the past century, wedding rings were mostly worn by women,
although the Christian church promoted exchanging wedding rings as a way
of keeping men faithful. Dual rings came into existence during WWII when
American and European soldiers wore wedding rings as a way to remember
their wives back home. The tradition continued through the Korean War.
After this, wedding rings for men caught on among civilians as well.
SIGNIFICANCE OF WEDDING RINGS TODAY
Wedding rings symbolize commitment, love and devotion. In the past, wedding rings signified a promise or as a token or even security deposit that showed a man’s
promise was “good as gold.”
In recent decades, weddings rings have evolved into statements of individuality and partnership that are worn by two people with a promise of lifetime togetherness. Both wedding rings and engagement rings are now the most important part of the wedding ceremonies not just in Western countries but in almost all parts of the world. Couple put in their thought and time to create these rings which stand as a testament of their love stories.
In recent decades, weddings rings have evolved into statements of individuality and partnership that are worn by two people with a promise of lifetime togetherness. Both wedding rings and engagement rings are now the most important part of the wedding ceremonies not just in Western countries but in almost all parts of the world. Couple put in their thought and time to create these rings which stand as a testament of their love stories.
Photo Credits: Pexels, Photo by TranStudios Photography & Video
